FREMANTLE is confident a lightened training load will have its players primed for Friday night's semi-final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, despite a demanding travel schedule.
After returning to Perth last Sunday following its elimination final win over reigning premier Geelong, Fremantle flew out of Perth on Wednesday afternoon with an unchanged 25-man squad.
The team trained lightly on Tuesday morning and again on Wednesday for 25 minutes, and assistant coach Peter Sumich said the short week of preparation would not be an issue against the Crows.
"It's a bit bizarre, it's a very short week really, but that's where it sits finishing seventh," Sumich said on Wednesday.
"We've got to accept what we do and we haven't got an issue with it because we know what happens finishing seventh. You've just got to move on and get on with it.
"We have lightened off a little bit over the last week or so with training, knowing that travel was coming, so I don't think it'll be an issue at all.
"Recovery's been the big thing. Aaron (Sandilands) said it after the game, the way they prepare now and recover, they could move on and probably play again within five days, let alone six."
Cameron Sutcliffe, Dylan Roberton and Zac Clarke, who were emergencies against the Cats, all travelled on Wednesday and Sumich said the final team was not finalised.
"We've got to make sure we're picking the right side for Adelaide," he said.
"Whether there's one or two changes, we don't know. As a match committee we'll discuss that more tonight and tomorrow morning and then finalise the side."
When Fremantle lost to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in round 20, star ruckman Sandilands was sidelined with a toe injury and midfielder Nat Fyfe was withdrawn late after slipping on a suitcase in his hotel room.
The Crows won the clearances 43-26 in that 28-point win, but Fremantle will field its strongest centre square combination on Friday night.
Sumich said regardless of the personnel changes, Fremantle needed to address what had happened against Adelaide last time.
"After half-time they got a hold of us, so we have to make sure we go in with a little bit of a different game plan," he said.
"We have to reassess what happened last time, there's no doubt about that."
Sumich, who is contracted with Fremantle for next season, played down talk of him joining Mick Malthouse's coaching team at Carlton in 2013.
He said applying for the vacant Port Adelaide coaching position was not something he was considering at the moment.
Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
